This publication presents estimates of the assets, liabilities, net worth and other characteristics of households and persons resident in private dwellings in Australia, compiled from the 2011-12 Survey of Income and Housing (SIH). It includes estimates of the distribution of net worth across the population.

CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE

Key changes in this issue include:

a decrease in fully responding sample size from 18,071 households in 2009-10 to 14,569 households in 2011-12. The expansion in the 2009-10 sample for an extra 4,200 households outside capital cities to support housing indicator reporting was maintained. The additional sample of metropolitan households whose main source of income was a government pension, benefit and/or allowance included in the 2009-10 SIH and HES samples to improve analysis for the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index was not maintained

an additional benchmark for the value of government benefit cash transfers used in 2009-10 was not required in 2011-12

disability questions for persons aged 15 years and over were not asked in 2011-12, but will be collected in 2013-14

the value of offset accounts was collected separately for the first time.

improvements include aligning with international statistical standards for the classification of assets, whereby the value of own unincorporated businesses is now classified as a financial asset; previously it was classified as a non-financial asset. See Appendix 3, A new wealth framework of this publication for more information.

REVISIONS

Errors in processing the 2009-10 income data have been corrected, resulting in an average decrease of $1 for mean equivalised disposable household income across all households. This was reflected largely in a decrease of 0.04% in the mean equivalised disposable household income of households in the second and third deciles. The income estimates for 2009-10 shown in this publication have been revised. The second edition of the 2009-10 CURF includes the revised estimates.

EFFECTS OF ROUNDING

Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals. Published percentages are calculated prior to rounding of the figures and therefore some discrepancy may exist between these percentages and those that could be calculated from the rounded figures.

INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Living Conditions on Canberra (02) 6252 6174, email <living.conditions@abs.gov.au>.